Pueblo County, Colorado
Charles J. Leftwich
Contributed by Maggie Stuart Zimmerman.
Honorable Charles J. Leftwich, a well known Pueblo contractor, was born in
Nodaway county, Missouri, on the 27th of December, 1867, his parents being Berry
and Sarah (Hayes) Leftwich, who were natives of Iowa. The family came originally
from Pennsylvania. The mother was born in Indiana but was reared in Iowa. During
the Civil war the father responded to the country's call for troops to aid in
the preservation of the Union and was at the front for eighteen months.
Obtaining his father's consent to his enlistment, he was enrolled at Des Moines,
Iowa, and with the "boys in blue" went to the front. Later he was married in Des
Moines, Iowa, and subsequently removed to Missouri. His last days, however, were
passed in Tacoma, Washington, where he died thirteen years ago. He is still
survived by his widow. They had a family of eight sons and two daughters, of
whom the second eldest is Charles J. Leftwich of this review.
In the rural schools of his native state and of Colorado, Charles J.
Leftwich pursued his education. The family removed from Missouri to Kansas
during his early childhood and afterward came to Colorado in 1881, at which time
he was a youth of fourteen years. The family were pioneers of the state and he
shared with the others of the household in the hardships and privations which
constitute features of frontier life. His educational opportunities were largely
those of the school of experience. As a boy he worked with his father until the
latter left the state, and it was under his direction that he learned the trade
of carpentering and building. He came to Pueblo in September, 1898, after living
for a time in Canon City. He has confined his attention here to the building of
dwellings and has erected many of the attractive homes of the city, including
the Gahagen home at Thirteenth and Court streets; the McFeeley residence at 21
Court street; the home of John Finland and many others. In his building
operations he has ever been able to combine beauty, utility and convenience in a
well balanced way and the results of his labors are highly satisfactory to his
patrons.
Mr. Leftwich was united in marriage on the 17th of June, 1895, to Miss Maud
A. Barnes, of Wet Mountain valley, and their children are Hildred, Lois and Irene.
Mr. Leftwich gives his political allegiance to the democratic party and has
served as city building inspector for four years. He has also twice been called
upon to represent his district in the state legislature, having been a member of
the general assembly during the eighteenth and nineteenth sessions. During the
first session the attention of the assembly was given practically only to lahor
and factory hills and Mr. Leftwich was instrumental in securing the passage of
the public utilities hill. He stood at all times for what he believed to be
right and his activity, strong purpose and patriotic spirit proved elements of
public welfare. Fraternally he is connected with the Modern Woodmen of America.
He is greatly respected by those who know him. His father was one of the
earliest residents of Colorado and from that time to the present the name of
Leftwich has figured in connection with the substantial development and
upbuilding of the state. Mr. Leftwich occupies an enviable place in the business
circles of Pueblo and has the entire confidence of those with whom he has been
brought in contact through trade relations as well as those whom he has met in
social circles.
Extracted from History of Colorado Illustrated Volume II 1918
to the Pueblo County Index Page.
Please e-mail comments and suggestions toKaren Mitchell.
| © Karen Mitchell |
